Bernard "Bernie" S. Toothaker, 69,
Died peacefully Tuesday afternoon in his residence, surrounded by loved ones after a year-long battle with cancer.
Born in Somerville, he was the son of the late Stanley B. and Gladys L. (LePelly) Toothaker. Raised and educated in Saugus, he had been a longtime resident of the city. He also had resided in Amesbury, Acton, and West Newbury.
Mr. Toothaker had retired from General Electric after 30 years working as a lathe operator in the Company’s Aviation Division. After his retirement from GE, Mr. Toothaker graduated from the North Bennet Street School in Boston’s North End and became a piano tuner.
Serving during the Vietnam Era, Mr. Toothaker was a 2nd Class Petty Officer in the Navy and was assigned to the USS Wallace L. Lind (DD-703). He received the National Defense Service Medal.
Mr. Toothaker’s spare time was filled with adventures. He was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and used his skills as an expert kayaker to lead classes and excursions for the AMC. Mr. Toothaker also enjoyed wilderness canoeing and backpacking throughout the United States and Canada. Music was also a big part of his life; he played the guitar, piano and harmonica and enjoyed live music shows. Skilled with his hands, he took great pride in his home improvement projects and being a member of the Eastern Massachusetts Senior Softball League.
Mr. Toothaker is survived by his wife of four years, Lori Soloway; his daughters, Shannon (nee Toothaker) Perry and her husband, Kenneth of Amesbury, and Erin E. Toothaker of Upton; his son, Josh Mower and his wife, Tessie of Groveland; his grandchildren, Joshua and Nicholas Mower and Lucas Perry; his sisters, Vera Harbison and her husband, J.C. of Saugus and Bernice Cornoni and her husband, Donald of Newbury; and his brother, William Franz and his wife, Lorraine of Naples, Fla. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Toothaker was the former spouse of the late Nora (Davis) Toothaker and Pamela Rivers of Worcester.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to join Bernie’s family for a memorial service in celebration of his life on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at the Roache-Pushard Family Funeral Home, 210 Sherman St., Canton.
Those who wish may make donations in his memory to VNA Hospice Care, 100 Trade Center, Suite G-500, Woburn, MA 01801.